Drawings To Wear: Putting Art On T-Shirts

There are several ways to put your drawing on a T-shirt. You can use transfer paper, screen printing, or inkodye. If you're using transfer paper, you'll need to print your design onto the paper, cut it out, and iron it onto your T-shirt. You can also upload your drawing to an online platform and have it printed onto a T-shirt. If you want to try screen printing, you'll need to create a screen print of your drawing and then use that to print onto your T-shirt. Inkodye is another option, where you paint the dye directly onto the T-shirt and then expose it to direct sunlight to transfer the image.

Using transfer paper and an iron

Choose a Design

Select a design, logo, or image that you want to transfer. If you intend to sell T-shirts with the design, make sure you only use your own creations. Oddly shaped designs will require more precise cutting, so be prepared for this. You will need to get your chosen design or image onto your computer, and then upload it to your printer. You can do this by scanning a physical photo or taking a photograph of it.

Purchase the Right Transfer Paper

You will need to buy iron-on transfer paper, which is available at stationery, craft, and office supply stores. There are two types of transfer paper: one for transferring images onto white and pastel-coloured fabrics, and one for transferring onto darker colours. If you are using the former type of transfer paper, you will need to reverse or mirror the image before printing, so that it appears the right way round on the T-shirt.

Print Your Design

Before printing your design onto the transfer paper, do a test run by printing it onto regular paper. This will allow you to check that the colours are correct, and that the image is the right size and not cut off. When you are happy with the test print, you can print the image onto the transfer paper, ensuring that you print onto the correct (non-coated) side.

Cut Out the Image

Cut around the image as precisely as possible, ensuring that there is no excess transfer paper left. If there is, it will leave a shadow on the T-shirt in the shape of the paper when you iron it on.

Prepare the T-Shirt

Cover your chosen ironing surface with a cotton pillowcase to protect it and the T-shirt. Place the T-shirt on top, and iron it until it is completely flat before applying the design.

Iron on the Design

Place the transfer paper image-side down on the T-shirt, ensuring that it is positioned correctly. Follow the instructions on the transfer paper for how long to iron the design for, and what temperature to use. Generally, you will need to use the hottest, dry heat setting (with no steam) and iron the design for 30 seconds to a few minutes, applying pressure with your whole hand. Move the iron as little as possible to maintain even heat over the image.

Remove the Transfer Paper

After allowing the image and T-shirt to cool for a few minutes, carefully peel away the transfer paper. Congratulations, you have now successfully transferred your image!

Care Instructions

Wait at least 24 hours after applying the transfer before washing the T-shirt. When you do wash it, only do so on a cool setting, and turn the T-shirt inside out for added protection. Wash by hand if possible, and avoid using bleach. Hang the T-shirt up to dry, rather than putting it in the dryer.

Printing directly onto the fabric with Inkodye

Printing directly onto fabric using Inkodye is a fun and simple way to transfer your drawings or designs onto a T-shirt. Inkodye is a photo-sensitive dye that uses sunlight to develop prints on natural fabrics, keeping the material soft and flexible. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Choose an Image and Prepare Your Work Area

Select an image or design that you want to transfer onto your T-shirt. It is recommended to work in a shaded indoor area to prevent the Inkodye from developing prematurely. Prepare your work surface by covering a large piece of cardboard or foam core with plastic. This will serve as your backing board to pin your fabric and negative image.

Step 2: Gather Your Supplies and Prepare the Fabric

The supplies you will need include:

• Natural fabric (such as cotton, silk, or linen)
• Inkodye (available in various colours)
• Application tools (a roller or paintbrushes with bristles or foam)
• A foam board or cardboard for your work surface
• Masking tape, cardboard, or foam core for creating shapes or negatives
• Pencil, scissors, and other crafting tools

Prepare your fabric by stretching it smoothly over your backing board. If needed, cut the board to fit your fabric size.

Step 3: Apply the Inkodye

Before opening the Inkodye packet, shake it well. Each packet should cover a 12x12" area, so use multiple packets if you want to cover a larger area or create a background for your design. Snap open the packet and spread the dye evenly onto your fabric. Use a roller or paintbrush to apply the dye, being careful not to oversaturate the fabric.

Step 4: Create and Place Your Negative or Stencil

If you are using a negative image, print your selected image in black and white, ensuring that the black areas are deep and dark to block sunlight effectively. You can use Lumi InkoFilm or any other printable transparency. Place and pin your negative onto the fabric, printed side down, to prevent ink transfer. If you are using cardboard cutouts or stencils, sketch and cut out your desired shapes, then place them over the fabric.

Step 5: Expose to Sunlight

Take your prepared fabric outside and expose it to direct sunlight. The development time can vary from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on the negative density and the intensity of sunlight. On a sunny day, 15-20 minutes of exposure is usually sufficient. You can carefully lift a corner to check the progress. Once you are happy with the results, bring your project back inside.

Step 6: Wash and Dry

Remove the negative or stencil carefully, being mindful that unexposed areas will start to develop colour if exposed to sunlight. Wash your fabric in hot, soapy water to remove excess dye. Use Inkowash or a strong detergent and run it through a hot/cold cycle twice to ensure all unexposed dye molecules are removed. Once washed and dried, your design will be permanent and machine washable.

Now you know the basics of printing with Inkodye, you can experiment with different designs, fabrics, and techniques to create unique and personalised T-shirts!

Using a fabric marker

First, create your design. You can draw it by hand or use a computer and print out your pattern. Decide which colours you will use for different lines or words and indicate these on your design. Place your design inside your T-shirt, then use a pencil to trace the design on the front of your T-shirt. Alternatively, hang the T-shirt in a window, using the natural light to see through the T-shirt to trace your design. Use a pencil, so that if you make a mistake, you can erase the lines and redo them. Once you have pencilled in your design, carefully go over it with your fabric marker. Start with the outline of each letter or element of your design, and then fill in the inside. If you are confident in your drawing skills, you can skip the pencil step and use the fabric marker directly.

Place cardboard or newspaper between the layers of the T-shirt to prevent the fabric marker from bleeding through to the other side. You can also use freezer paper for this purpose. If you are using a stencil, place your design or stencil beneath the fabric surface and trace your design using a pencil, then go over it with the fabric marker. If you are creating a design with geometric shapes, patterns, zigzags, or straight lines, place strips of masking tape directly on the surface of the fabric and draw along the edge of the tape onto the T-shirt. Complete the outline with the fabric markers, then remove the tape and fill in the centre of the design.

Let the paint dry according to the packaging on the markers. Remove any stencils, patterns, masking tape, or cardboard before setting the colour with heat. Set the T-shirt design to prevent fading or bleeding of colour. Heat an iron to the cotton setting and place a sheet of freezer paper over the design. Iron over the design for about four minutes. Alternatively, you can use a clothes dryer instead of an iron by drying your painted T-shirt on high heat for 30 minutes. Wash T-shirts decorated with fabric markers alone in cold water for the first three washes, and machine or air dry.

Scanning and uploading your drawing to a t-shirt website

Scanning Your Drawing

Start by finding a scanner with a high pixel per inch (PPI) rate. Most modern scanners can scan at 600 PPI, but for capturing more detail, aim for a scanner that can go up to 1200 PPI. This is especially important if you plan to create large image files for printing on items like t-shirts. As a rule of thumb, scan at a PPI rate double the required printing resolution to maintain quality.

When scanning your artwork, choose the "Grayscale" option if it's in black and white. Avoid scanning in "Black and White" mode, as this can result in a loss of detail and create a poor-quality vector image. If your drawing is in colour, be sure to scan in "Colour" mode.

Cleaning Up Your Image

The next step is to open your scanned image in a graphics editing program like Photoshop, GIMP, or similar. This step will allow you to remove any dust, fingerprints, smudges, or other imperfections that may have occurred during the scanning process. Use the tools within your chosen software to carefully clean up your image—this step is crucial for ensuring your final product looks its best.

Choosing a T-Shirt Website

Now it's time to select a t-shirt website that allows you to upload and place orders for custom t-shirts. There are many online platforms that offer this service, so find one that suits your needs and budget. Create an account and follow the website's instructions for uploading your image.

Uploading Your Drawing

Once you've chosen a website, follow their specific instructions for uploading your image file. Ensure that your image meets the website's requirements for file format, size, and resolution. You may need to make further adjustments to your image, such as resizing or changing the file type, depending on the website's guidelines.

Placing Your Order

After uploading your drawing, you can now place your order for the t-shirt. Follow the website's instructions for selecting the desired t-shirt style, colour, and quantity. Review your order details carefully, including the placement and size of your drawing on the t-shirt, before finalizing the purchase.

Receiving Your Custom T-Shirt

Finally, wait for your custom t-shirt to arrive! Depending on the website and your chosen shipping options, it may take a few days or weeks for your order to be processed and delivered. Once you receive your t-shirt, you can enjoy your unique creation, featuring your very own drawing.

Tracing your drawing onto the shirt with a removable pen, then going over it with a fabric marker

Transferring your drawing onto a T-shirt is a fun and simple process that only requires a few basic tools. You can use a removable pen, such as a Frixion pen, which disappears with heat, or a pen that disappears with water or over time. Alternatively, you can use tailor's chalk. These options are ideal because they allow you to make changes to your design if you make a mistake.

First, place some paper or cardboard inside the shirt to protect the back from any ink. Then, draw a rough version of your design onto the shirt. If you're working with stretchy fabric, it may be easier to make dots instead of lines. If you're adding lettering, it's helpful to draw a grid to ensure that your letters are evenly spaced and aligned.

Once you're happy with the positioning and size of your design, you can go over it with a fabric marker. Fabric markers are a great way to add flair and personalise your clothing. Choose a marker with a small tip to outline your design, then fill in the shapes with a wider tip marker. It's important to hold the marker upright to avoid any smudging.

After you've added colour to your design, you'll need to set the ink. Make sure the ink is completely dry, then iron the back of the fabric to prevent any stains on your ironing board. You can also use a hairdryer to heat-set the ink. Finally, wash the T-shirt in the washing machine and air dry it. Now you're ready to show off your unique creation!

Frequently asked questions